Food And Wine Magazine Gets The Key To Aspen

After the city's battle with drought canceled the Food and Wine Classic 30th anniversary firework display, the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, an organization that works to improve access to fresh produce, gave Food and Wine magazine a $10,000 gift for their yearly sponsorship of the event.

"The drought conditions are unfortunate but we hope it does rain, on Tuesday, after we're gone," said Christina Grdovic, vice president and publisher of Food & Wine, "I say it's about Aspen hands down, we couldn't do it without you."

But the city had more in store for the magazine — Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland and Councilman Derek Johnson presented Grdovic and the rest of the staff with a key to the city.

Mayor Ireland did not forget to note that originally the event organizers were given a $5,000 grant in 1983, which will be forgiven along with the $24,112 of interest. Ireland joked that the money would go to "Spanish wine banks."